By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE Mulalo Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) has recorded significant progress in its efforts to combat crime, with one of its recent operations leading to the arrest and imprisonment of a suspected drug dealer.
Committee chairman Sibonginkosi Mhlanga said the organisation’s night patrols and close cooperation with residents have yielded positive results since the committee began operating in Ward 5 under Beitbridge Urban Police in 2022.
He told Ziyah News Network that one of the committee’s notable success stories involved the arrest of Morris Penduka (35) of Dulibadzimu found in possession of approximately 900 grams of dagga following a community tip-off in May.
“We received information from concerned residents and acted on it. The suspect was found with 900 grams of dagga and was handed over to the police. He was later taken to court and sentenced to four months in prison,” said Mhlanga.
The Mulalo NWC is affiliated with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Urban Division, and Mhlanga revealed that four members of the committee have since joined the police service and are now serving as constables with official force numbers.
He called on residents to continue supporting the committee’s work by paying subscriptions that help sustain community security operations, including evening stop-and-search patrols.
“Community support is critical to our work. The subscriptions help us continue providing security services and maintaining a visible presence in our residential areas,” he said.
Mhlanga also expressed concern over households that refuse to contribute towards community security initiatives, alleging that some are linked to illegal activities.
“Some of the people who do not want to support the security programme are often the same individuals involved in drug dealings and other criminal activities because they do not want attention drawn to their operations,” he said.
The chairman further appealed to young people to join the committee and become active participants in efforts to keep neighbourhoods safe.
“We encourage the youth to work with us in protecting our communities and to stay away from drug and substance abuse, which often fuels criminal behaviour,” he said.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Mulalo Neighbourhood Watch Committee has played an increasingly important role in complementing police efforts to improve safety and security within Ward 5.